The quiet beach just south of Chaweng: beautiful, romantic hotels, a wonderful beach, and in the evening - a taxi. Who it suits and who it does not, after staying at two hotels there.
Updated: October 2026·By Michelle Loren
A small bay with pale sand, palm trees, clear water and hotels along the shore. Chaweng Noi offers a calmer beach experience than central Chaweng, without being far from Koh Samui's nightlife areas.
Chaweng Noi Beach is on the east coast of Koh Samui, just south of the famous Chaweng Beach. Despite the similar name, these are two separate beaches with quite different characters.
While central Chaweng is known for its long strip of hotels, restaurants, beach clubs and nightlife, Chaweng Noi is a smaller, quieter bay, surrounded by tropical vegetation and hotels that open straight onto the sand.
The beach is particularly suited to anyone looking for a relaxed day by the sea, with the option of a meal at a beach restaurant or heading on to central Chaweng later in the day.
We stayed in Chaweng Noi at two hotels: The Sarann, which was perfect, and Impiana, which was nice. At both we learned the same thing: the beach is wonderful and the hotels are beautiful and romantic, but to go out in the evening you need a taxi.
What does Chaweng Noi beach look like?
Chaweng Noi stretches along a curved bay, separated from Chaweng by a rocky headland. The sand is pale and fairly wide in the central parts, with palm trees, greenery and hotel grounds behind it.
Chaweng Noi bay from The SarannThe Impiana pool facing the sea
The water ranges from blue to turquoise, depending on the light, the depth and the state of the sea. In different parts of the bay you can see rocks at the ends of the beach, while the middle has sandy areas suitable for swimming.
One of the most noticeable differences between Chaweng Noi and Chaweng is what is built behind the beach. Instead of a busy commercial street right next to the sea, much of the shoreline is taken up by resorts with gardens, pools and restaurants.
As a result, the beach feels less commercial. There is no long run of shops and clubs here, and the focus is mainly on the sea and the restaurants beside it.
It is still a tourist beach with well-developed hotels, not a secluded bay or a wild beach. Its advantage is the combination of tourist services with fairly calm surroundings.
Is Chaweng Noi good for swimming?
Chaweng Noi is considered one of the more comfortable beaches for swimming on Koh Samui's east coast. The seabed is sandy in the central parts of the bay, and the water generally allows pleasant swimming when sea conditions are right.
That said, do not assume the sea is always calm. In the months when strong winds blow from the east and north-east, significant waves can build up even in bays that look fairly sheltered.
During Koh Samui's monsoon season, usually felt most between October and December, there may be days when swimming is less comfortable or not advisable. Even in the dry season, sea conditions can change from day to day.
Before going into the water, check the waves, the depth and any warning flags. At the ends of the bay, watch out for the rocks in particular.
Is the beach suitable for families with children?
Yes, mainly on days when the sea is calm. The sand lets children play near the water, and in the central parts of the bay getting into the sea is fairly easy.
For families who want to spend a few hours on the beach, choose a spot with easy access to a restaurant, toilets and shade.
Remember that this is open sea, with no guarantee of shallow or calm water in every season. Children need supervision even when the waves look small.
What to do in Chaweng Noi
The main activity in Chaweng Noi is simply spending time on the beach. This is not a place you come to for a long list of attractions, but to enjoy a few hours by the sea.
You can swim, sunbathe, walk along the bay or sit at a restaurant overlooking the sand.
Walking along the beach
One of the nicest ways to get to know Chaweng Noi is to walk along the water's edge. The bay is small enough to see much of it on a leisurely stroll. Along the way, the scenery changes between open stretches of sand, palm-lined areas and resorts set back from the beach.
At the ends of the bay the scenery becomes rockier, and getting past may be less easy, especially at high tide.
Relaxing on the beach
Some of the sunloungers and umbrellas belong to hotels and restaurants. Using them may depend on ordering food, paying or getting permission from the place.
You can enjoy the beach without staying at a hotel, but it is worth telling the public strip of sand apart from the hotels' private facilities.
Views over the bay
The hills above Chaweng Noi give a completely different angle on the area. From high viewpoints you can see the coastline, the sea and the development stretching along Koh Samui's east coast.
One of the best-known places in the area is the Jungle Club, on the hill above Chaweng Noi, with a restaurant and panoramic views. It is an outing in its own right, separate from time on the beach, and the road up from the main road is steep and narrow.
Restaurants and food in Chaweng Noi
Unlike central Chaweng, which has a wide choice of independent restaurants, food stalls and cafes, in Chaweng Noi much of the food on offer is inside the hotels or right next to them.
You will find Thai and international restaurants, fish and seafood, light meals and drinks served facing the beach.
Long Talay and Blue Monkey are two options within the Sheraton Samui Resort. The first focuses on Thai cooking, including local dishes from southern Thailand, and the second is a beach bar with cocktails, seafood and drinks facing the sea.
If you prefer a restaurant with a view from up high, the Jungle Club has a menu combining Thai and European dishes, with seating overlooking the coastline.
The choice along the bay is limited compared with Chaweng, so plan ahead if you want to eat at a particular restaurant. The neighbouring hotels are very expensive (the food is excellent and they are open at night), but the walk to them is dark and unpleasant late in the evening. The whole area is fairly expensive compared with the rest of the island.
Is there street food in Chaweng Noi?
Chaweng Noi is not a hub for street food and evening markets. If you are looking for pad thai stalls, shakes, cheap local food and a wide choice of restaurants, you will find many more options in central Chaweng.
You can spend a few hours swimming in Chaweng Noi and then carry on to Chaweng for dinner.
Chaweng Noi vs Chaweng - what is the difference?
Despite being so close, the two beaches offer different experiences.
Central Chaweng is one of the busiest tourist hubs on Koh Samui. Behind the beach run commercial streets with shops, restaurants, bars, shopping centres and nightclubs. During the day, beach clubs and places to go out operate along the beach.
Chaweng Noi, by contrast, is smaller and quieter. There is less commercial activity and fewer places to go out, and the atmosphere centres mainly on the sea, the hotels and the beach restaurants.
The difference is especially noticeable in the evening. In Chaweng you can go straight from the beach to a restaurant, the shops or a party. In Chaweng Noi you can enjoy a quieter meal, but for a wide choice of nights out you usually need to drive.
If you prefer a beach with less traffic and a relaxed atmosphere, you may enjoy Chaweng Noi more. If you want to leave your hotel and walk to a range of restaurants, shops and nightlife, central Chaweng has more options.
How to get to Chaweng Noi
Chaweng Noi lies south of Chaweng, beside the main road towards Lamai.
You can get there by taxi or hire car. The drive from central Chaweng is fairly short, but how long it takes depends on traffic and where you set off from.
Beach access
One important thing to know is that the beach cannot be reached from every point along the road.
Much of the land between the road and the sea is taken up by hotels and private grounds, so you need to find a suitable way through to the beach. There are access points near the hotels and public paths, but not every route that appears on the map leads straight to the sand.
Before you go, check the access point on the map and make sure it is open to pedestrians. You do not need to book a hotel room to use the public stretch of beach.
Can you walk from Chaweng?
Chaweng Noi is a separate bay, not a continuous extension of Chaweng Beach that you can simply walk along on the sand.
Between the beaches there is a rocky stretch and sections of road, so walking there is less convenient than the distance on the map might suggest. If you are staying in central Chaweng, a taxi will usually be the easier option.
Hotels in Chaweng Noi
Along the beach there are several hotels and resorts with beach access, pools, restaurants and rooms facing the gardens or the bay.
Hotels in the area include The Sarann and Impiana Resort Chaweng Noi, where we stayed, as well as Sheraton Samui Resort, New Star Beach Resort and Vana Belle.
What many of them have in common is a location in calmer surroundings than central Chaweng, while still being fairly close to the restaurant and nightlife areas.
However, not every hotel in Chaweng Noi is in the same kind of spot. Some are right on the sand, while others sit on a slope or across the road.
Before booking, check whether the room is close to the sea, whether there are steps down to the beach and whether getting there involves crossing the road.
Chaweng Noi's location lets you combine a relaxed beach day with visits to other parts of eastern Koh Samui.
To the north is central Chaweng, with shops, shopping centres, restaurants and nightlife.
To the south is a rocky stretch of coast with small bays such as Coral Cove and Silver Beach, which are worth a separate visit. At some of them you can also snorkel, depending on the sea conditions.
Further along the road is Lamai Beach, one of the island's biggest tourist centres, with a long beach and a wide range of restaurants.
You can also combine your visit with one of the viewpoints above the beach, especially if you are travelling by car and want to see the area from above.
When is the best time to visit Chaweng Noi?
Koh Samui's weather allows beach visits for much of the year, but swimming conditions change with the season.
From February to April there is usually a good chance of sunny days, although there may still be wind and waves.
Between May and September the weather can be hot and humid, with local showers. You can sometimes enjoy long hours of sunshine even on days when the forecast includes rain.
From October to December rainfall on Koh Samui tends to be higher, and sea conditions on the east coast can be rough.
For time on the beach itself, come in the morning or the afternoon, when the heat is less intense. Around midday, come prepared with sun protection and drinking water.
Who is Chaweng Noi for?
Chaweng Noi suits anyone who prefers a fairly relaxed beach, with swimming, restaurants and resort facilities in well-kept surroundings.
Couples looking for peace and quiet without going far from Chaweng can enjoy the location, and families who mainly want to spend time on the beach and by the pool will also find suitable options in the area.
Couples and honeymooners who want to stay in the hotel
Anyone who wants quiet and a beautiful beach
Anyone happy to take a taxi in the evening
On the other hand, if you prefer nightlife within walking distance, street food on hand and a wide choice of restaurants and shops, you may find central Chaweng more convenient.
Anyone who wants to walk out every evening
Anyone who wants to be in the thick of Chaweng's nightlife
What to know before you go
The beach is separate from Chaweng: it is not a direct continuation of the main stretch of sand.
Getting to the beach takes some planning: much of the shoreline borders hotel grounds.
Food options are fairly limited: hotel restaurants make up a large part of what is on offer.
Swimming conditions vary: check the state of the sea and any safety warnings on the day.
The atmosphere is quieter: for nights out, shopping and nightlife, head on to Chaweng.
Is Chaweng Noi worth visiting?
Chaweng Noi is a good choice if you love the look of Koh Samui's beaches but prefer to get a little away from the bustle of central Chaweng.
The bay offers pale sand, palm trees, swimming and restaurants by the sea, while staying close to one of the island's biggest tourist centres.
It is a beach that particularly suits a relaxed few hours or a whole day, and less so anyone looking for a string of attractions and activities.
For the island's other beaches, restaurants, attractions and areas, continue to our Koh Samui guide.
The hotel is temporarily closed for renovation. This review describes our own stay in March 2025, before the works began. Reopening is expected in the second half of 2027, but this has not yet been finally confirmed.
✓ We stayed here
A stunning hotel with a perfect restaurant - the rainy days affected our experience
